Khaleda’s polls-time govt proposal unacceptable: Hanif

 

Terming BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s interim government proposal unacceptable, Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif on Monday said her proposal is like that of the caretaker government system.

 

“There’s nothing new in her (Khaleda) proposal. Her proposal is like that of the caretaker government system. So, her proposal is not acceptable,” he said.

 

Hanif said this while giving his reaction to the opposition leader’s proposal over election-time government at his office at city’s Karwan Bazar.

 

Earlier, at a press conference, Khaleda Zia offered an alternative formula to form a polls-time government led by a revered person comprising 10 ex-advisers from the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments to be chosen by the ruling and opposition parties to hold an inclusive and credible election.

 

“I’m proposing that from those 20 Advisers the ruling party can propose five names and the opposition another five. They’ll be the Advisers to the forthcoming election-time government,” she told a crowded press conference at city’s Westin Hotel.

 

Hanif, also a special assistant to the Prime Minister, said “Her speech has stunned us. Khaleda Zia had raised allegation about the caretaker government in 1996.  The caretaker government of 2001 was a controversial one. What type of controversy she wants to create again with the controversial figures?”

 

He also said that Awami League believes that there is still scope of having discussions on the proposal of the Prime Minister on election-time government

 

“Still, there’s time. We hope the main opposition will respond positively to the PM’s proposal,” Hanif added.

 

On October 18, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed forming an all-party election-time government to oversee the next general election but fell short of making it clear who will head the interim administration.

 

“We want to hold the next parliamentary elections taking all parties with us. It’s my proposal to the opposition party that we can form an ‘all-party government’ comprising all parties for the election period,” she said in her address to the nation.

Source: UNB Connect